A Forever Stamp for Jimi Hendrix

For many fans, the memory of Seattle-born Jimi Hendrix will live on forever, so it is only fitting that the U.S. Postal Service today released a new stamp – a Forever stamp – honoring his legacy.

Related Content

The stamp was to be dedicated the SXSW festival in Austin, before a Hendrix celebration concert.

“Combining influences from rock, modern jazz, soul and the blues with his own innovations, Jimi Hendrix helped found three new genres of music — heavy metal, jazz fusion and funk — and in doing so, left behind an indelible mark on pop music and popular culture generally,” said Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer and executive vice president of U.S. Postal Service.

Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s sister, will join in on the dedication.

“I am deeply touched and so are other members of the Hendrix family by the issuance of this stamp, and I wish to thank the United States Postal Service for bestowing one of our nation’s highest honors on my brother Jimi,” she said in a statement. “While my brother has been cited many times as being among the most influential musicians of all time, the recognition implicit in his being portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp ranks as an unparalleled honor.”

The legendary guitarist died in 1970 at the age of 27, a year after his memorable appearance at Woodstock, where he embarked upon an uninterrupted set lasting nearly two hours -- one of the longest performances of his career -- which concluded with a long medley that included the solo performance of the Star Spangled Banner.